Brown’s fear is electoral black hole

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“THINGS can only get better.” Five and a half years ago, as Labour celebrated its longed-for return to power in the dim 5am light outside London’s Royal Festival Hall, the words of its campaign anthem captured the spirit of the moment. Everything, at last, seemed possible. Bliss was it in that dawn to be Labour, and for Gordon Brown it was very heaven.

That, however, was 1997. In 2002 the same hopeful lyrics seem to echo mockingly down the years. By the next general election, Labour’s five-word anthem of optimism could become the most potent taunt that the Tories can